Page 20 - Keynsham Town FC v Ashton & Backwell 070423

Ashton & Backwell United was formed in June 2010
when a merger was agreed between Backwell United
and the Senior and Youth sections of Ashton Boys.
This was driven by myself (Mike Thomas) Jim Biggins
(the new club’s 1 chairman), Matt Southern and Ian
st
Jones. During the previous season (09/10), the
Ashton Boys Youth side (managed by Jim) played at
Backwell as tenants to enable them to participate in
the Somerset Floodlight Youth League as Ashton FC
(Backwell).They enjoyed a successful 1 season in
st
the SFYL finishing as Runners-up to Clevedon Town. I could see that
Backwell fc were struggling on and off the pitch and recognized the
potential of forming stronger ties, in terms of producing future players and
benefiting from extra help in the general running of the football club. I had
always wanted the chance to provide a football pathway from Ashton
Juniors through to adult football and offer a good level of football at a
ground that had the potential to allow progression through promotion.
Ashton & Backwell United FC came into existence. The Ashton FC colours
of Maroon and Blue were adopted as was the Backwell United nickname
“the Stags” which was incorporated into the new club’s crest along with the
Moto “Ubi Concordia ibi Victoria” which translates as “Where is the Unity,
There is the Victory”. Ashton & Backwell United form part of the Ashton FC
group alongside Ashton Boys and Ashton Girls and collectively they hold the
FA Charter Standard “Community Club” status.
The club’s first season saw the first team reach the final of the Somerset
County League Cup where they lost out to a last minute penalty against
Shirehampton. The Youth team ensured that there was some silverware
however finishing as Champions of the SFYL North Division and securing
the clubs first promotion, a team that would form the basis of 1 team
st
squads in years to come. .In 12/13, under the management of Shane Smith
a 3rd place finish behind Nailsea United and Minehead was enough to
secure promotion to Toolstation Western League Division 1.

2013/14 was a season of consolidation, adjusting to life in the Toolstation
Western League, former Ashton Boys manager, Rich Coombes was
appointed Manager for the 14/15 season and the club improved to an 8th
place finish. The Reserves were beaten finalists in the Somerset County
Div2 Cup. The same fate befell the U21s, however, this was their only
defeat of the season as they ran away with the U21 Combination title.
Coomber continued to keep the club as a very competitive top 8 side,
before handing the reigns over to his assistants Paul Waring and Rich Ford
for the 2017/18 campaign. For various reasons the first half of the season
was a struggle, but a vast improvement febuary onwards saw the under
achieving side climb to safety.